In a startling revelation Rajender Chaudhary alias Samundar Singh, the prime suspect who had planted explosives on the Samjhauta Express train, has disclosed during his custodial interrogation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that the “right-wing extremists’’ had plans to set up modules across the country with a view to plan and hit specific targets. Chaudhary, sources added, also disclosed that explosions in Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and Malegaon were part of the same plan.
Highly-placed intelligence sources said this strategy of “right-wing extremists’’ was however, “nipped in the bud’’ as intelligence agencies got timely information about their plans and launched a massive offensive that was directly monitored by the then National Security Adviser, M.K. Narayanan.
Chaudhary was picked up from near Ujjain on Saturday by an NIA team following specific information. He was produced in a Panchkula court which remanded him to NIA’s custody.
During questioning, sources added, Chaudhary revealed that their module was also planning to source RDX to be used for further explosions.
But some investigating officials suspect that the module may well have been able to source the RDX since despite several forensic examinations its not clear what exact explosive was used in the Samjhauta blast even though some traces of RDX were found.
The NIA has now further intensified its hunt for two other prime suspects in the case, Ramji Kalsangre and Sandeep Dange.
Officials feel these two, on whom a reward has also been announced, will be able to provide more details about these operations.
Though investigating agencies feel that the main module of these right-wing extremists may have been smashed but they suspect that some splinter groups may still exist.
The NIA is already in the process of identifying them.
However, what is troubling the intelligence agencies is that from where this module managed to source the explosives.
“As long as we are not able to establish the exact sources of location of explosives there is a possibility that these modules may re-group. Further we are still trying to join the dots for these three explosions and more arrests are likely,’’ a senior NIA official remarked.